About

$19,148

pledged of $10,000 goal

152

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Welcome to the King Kong of Skull Island project. This is for all those with an irrepressible love of art, King Kong, dinosaurs, ancient civilizations, assorted monsters, real and speculative science plus fiction, action, adventure, and other assorted knick knacks of imagination. With your help, this Kickstarter will delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding King Kong and Skull Island than ever before.

King Kong of Skull Island contains the long awaited expansion of Joe’s original 1992 creation, Skull Island. King Kong of Skull Island will open with The Denham Diaries, which will be followed by a novel in two parts: Part 1: Exodus and Part 2: The Wall, all co-written by Joe DeVito and Brad Strickland. The book will feature lush, full color interior art and an extensive sketchbook section written and lavishly illustrated by DeVito.

Creating the original Skull Island and its ancillary work, The History of Skull Island, brought into play a life-long fascination with everything King Kong. Conceived with the full support of Kong creator Merian C. Cooper’s family, these represented the first true expansions of the King Kong mythos since the creation of Kong himself–not only of King Kong, but of all the Kongs who came before him, as well as the forgotten human civilization that came to occupy Skull Island millennia before.

The new novel, the accompanying Denham Diaries, sketchbook text, drawings and details contained in this new King Kong of Skull Island book cover the entire ground-breaking Skull Island creation and exponentially expands upon it. It goes on to explore the continued saurian evolution and adaptation that took place on the island over the 65 million years following the mass extinction of the dinosaurs. King Kong of Skull Island uncovers the origins of both the mighty Kongs and the Tagatu civilization, while digging deep into the very foundations of Skull Island itself. Woven throughout the entire tapestry of the stories are unusual scientific facts and theories to add verisimilitude. Each book comes with a numbered bookplate exclusive to this edition that is signed by the authors.

In development for 25 years, King Kong of Skull Island features a 95,000 word novel in two parts.

Part 1: EXODUS delves into the hidden history of the Tagatu civilization, the origins of the mighty Kongs and the strange, ancient interactions that enabled their survival in the midst of disastrous events. Facing impossible obstacles, the spectacular exodus of an entire civilization unfolds against a cataclysmic backdrop leading to an unlikely destination: Skull Island. Unless a solution can be found quickly, the unimaginable dangers encountered there threaten to forever wipe them from the face of the earth…

Part 2: THE WALL tells the incredible story of what happened on Skull Island after the arrival there of the first human civilization, their interaction with the prehistoric Kongs, and the war for species survival against the island’s strange saurian denizens. Life there has not stood still, but continued to evolve for tens of millions of years to a point where humans may no longer be dominant. The inevitable, penultimate war for survival between humans, Kongs and super-saurians takes place against the backdrop of the massive undertaking of the building of the iconic Wall: A barrier that will span the millennia to play a major role in the eventual rise and fall of the mythic beast-god of Skull Island, King Kong!

King Kong of Skull Island also contains the 30,000 word Denham Diaries, a retelling of DeVito’s original Skull Island story that reveals the fate of Carl Denham in the wake of King Kong’s death, recounts the epic adventure of how Kong became a King, and determines the fate of the Tagatu people. Along the way many mysteries of Skull Island are uncovered, effectively making the island a character in its own right. The book will also feature an extensive, lavishly illustrated sketchbook section of over 25,000 words by DeVito that digs into the foundations of Skull Island as never before, as well as a lush, full–color Kong/Skull Island art gallery!

Pledge today to get your copy of
this exciting and soon to be rare book!

BEAST-GOD VERSUS APE-MAN

The year was 1933. Filmmaker Carl Denham had captured the stupendous monster he had dubbed “King” Kong. But that was only the beginning. Denham was determined to get the dethroned ruler of Skull Mountain Island back to America, and cash in on the greatest wild animal capture in human history.

The saga of how Kong was taken in chains from his Indian Ocean kingdom to New York City has never been told. In order for the cargo freighter Wanderer to make the long transit to the Atlantic, she is forced to circumnavigate Africa—jungle home of the legendary Tarzan of the Apes!

Here is the long-anticipated clash between the Monarch of Skull Island and Lord of the Jungle.

When the largest anthropoid who ever lived encounters the savage superman raised by the great apes, will they make peace—or war?

Before the world knew them, they met…. Before they were legends, they clashed!

An urgent summons from his father brings young Clark Savage, Jr. to San Francisco for a mysterious mission: to locate the long-lost clipper ship captained by his legendary ancestor, Stormalong Savage.

Their quest will take them to the heart of the Indian Ocean and a fog-shrouded isle unknown to civilization, a place inhabited by dinosaurs unsuspected by history and ruled by a titanic creature known only as… Kong!

Doc Savage meets his first great challenge in the fierce prehistoric jungles of Skull Island!

“Kong: King of Skull Island” reveals the fate of Carl Denham in the wake of King Kong’s death through his son, Vincent. Vincent's quest leads him back to Skull Island, where his life is saved by the enigmatic Storyteller, the keeper of the island’s lore. Through them are uncovered the epic adventure of how Kong became a King, the many mysteries of the Tagatu civilization, and ancient secrets of Skull Island itself.

“Kong: King of Skull Island” (2004, 2005 by DH Press) is an expanded account of Joe’s original “Skull Island” story and art containing many beautiful illustrations and a multitude of detailed drawings throughout its 70,000 words of text. It measures 8.5"x11" and is over 175 pages. Forward by Ray Harryhausen. This is the perfect companion piece to the new book, “King Kong of Skull Island.”

"Merian C. Cooper’s KING KONG" (Publ. 2005 St. Martin’s Press) is an extensive rewrite of the original KING KONG novelization written by Delos Lovelace, first published in 1932. While remaining true to the 1930’s time frame, this novel greatly expands on the original story, and updates it stylistically.

"KING KONG" incorporates all of the authors’ experience garnered over several years of collaboration on their first Kong book, and brings into full play their unique perspective on the Kong mythos. A full four additional chapters have been added to fill out and nuance the original story, particularly in regard to Kong’s rampage through New York City and updating the paleontological accuracy of the encounters with the Skull Island’s dinosaurs. Forward by James V. D’Arc, Curator Merian C. Cooper Papers, Brigham Young University.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KongOfSkullIsland

Kong Website: www.kongskullisland.com

Joe DeVito's Website: www.jdevito.com

Twitter: @JDevito_Art

Instagram: @joedevitoart

The high cost of shipping worldwide is beyond our control
and we’re working hard to make sure the backer pledge rewards will be shipped
as quickly and inexpensively as possible. We do not expect to make a profit
from the shipping charges, but by the same token, we also cannot afford to lose
money on it either.

After the Kickstarter campaign ends, we will send out a
backer survey to collect your mailing addresses. Using this information, we
will get the most accurate shipping pricing we can, based on our actual cost to
ship your reward level to your home, and then charge you only that amount.

Risks and challenges

Joe DeVito has been a professional artist, writer and sculptor for over thirty years with a sterling reputation. This endeavor has been well-planned over many months, covering many years of work and will be conducted to the highest standards.

- The writing and art for "King Kong of Skull Island" are virtually 100% complete and are already in the editing process.